Correspondence.



105



wages in England. The birds were packed in Germany or Hungary in lots as required*

met in London, re-labelled at the station, and re-consigned. However, this is one

instance only out of many, and it is typical of what has taken place in corpora¬

tions (German cars, fire escapes) in Government offices and absolutely every

department and office.



A VISIT TO THE ZOO EIGHTY YEARS AGO.


In view of Dr. Hopkinson’s paper on this subject in the October number

the Magazine, the following facts may be of interest:


(1) The article in the ‘ Quarterly Review ’ was written by W. J. Broderip,

a barrister, and in later years the author of two books, ‘ Zoological Recreations ’

and ‘ Leaves from the Note-book of a Naturalist.’ He collaborated with Mr.

N. A. Vigors in drawing up the first ‘ Guide to the Gardens,’ published in 1829.


(2) The first parrot house was built in 1834, in what is now the South

Garden. It was lighted from above only and had outside cages. By the autumn of

1855 it had become a small mammal house, and many will remember it, with its

cages running all round the inside, its table-cases for mice and gerbils, and the doors

at either end. A photograph of this building will be found on p. 103 of Mr. Aflalo’s

book, ‘A Walk through the Zoological Gardens.’ It was pulled down to make room

for the more modern house for small mammals, which was opened in 1904.


(3) The aviary fronting the lawn was not the present Eastern Aviary, though

occupying practically the same site. The Crowned Cranes which it contained

were probably those presented to the Society by William IV. in 1830, being portion

of the Royal Menagerie in Windsor Park. The present Eastern Aviary was not

built till 1862. It was larger than its predecessor, better lighted and ventilated,

and had a novel feature in its elevated floor.


(1) The aviary for “small and middle-sized birds” still survives near the

tunnel. In later years it has served as a Civet House, a Parrakeet Aviary, and

a Crow Aviary. It originally contained a collection of British birds and also some

foreigners — i.e. a Crested Partridge, Chinese Starling, Parrot Fruit Pigeon, and

American Sparrow-hawk.


(5) The Eagles’ Aviary was an octagonal building with a pointed roof,

situated near the site of the present bandstand. It contained in 1829 a Griffon

Sociable Vultures, a White-headed Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Osprey, and some

Golden Eagles. A writer in the ‘Quarterly Review’ for December. 1855, notes

that the Eagle’s Aviary had been pulled down, and its site laid with grass and

added to the lawn.


(6) The “learned and experienced medical attendant” of the Zoo was

Prof. William Youatt, who retired from his duties in 1845. He contributed a

volume on the horse to the ‘ Library of Useful Knowledge,’ and also wrote a

book on the dog, which passed through at least two editions.


(7) The Lion House consisted of a row of nine dens on the lawn in front

of what is now the Camel House.


(S) The Monkey House was approximately on the site of the present

Jackals’ Enclosure.


(9) The Chimpanzee lived in the keeper’s quarters, and not in the “ Ape-

Ant-eater and Hot-water House,” which was not completed until 1S52.



